Ongama Mtimka – The Conversation

Julius Malema addresses his supporters ahead of a Constitutional Court judgment in Johannesburg in May 2026. Photo by Luba Lesolle/Gallo Images via Getty Images

May 14, 2026

Julius Malema: South Africa’s performative revolutionary is facing his biggest battle

Ongama Mtimka, Nelson Mandela University

Julius Malema’s skills at building a party and running a tight ship have been bolstered by his charisma and speech-making capability.

The Economic Freedom Fighters marked its 10th anniversary at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on 29 July 2023. Guillem Sartorio/AFP via Getty Images

October 10, 2023

Economic Freedom Fighters became South Africa’s third largest political party in just 10 years. What’s behind its electoral success

Ongama Mtimka, Nelson Mandela University and Gary Francis Prevost, College of Saint Benedict & Saint John's University

Opinions differ widely about the true character of the EFF and what it really stands for since it gained seats in parliament in 2014.

SACP’s Blade Nzimande, left, with Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa. GCIS

July 24, 2017

Why South Africa’s communists need to cut the ANC umbilical cord. Or perish

Ongama Mtimka, Nelson Mandela University

After tiptoeing around the idea of contesting state power South Africa’s Communist Party is looking to strengthen its position now that the ANC is no longer the dominant force it used to be.

Cyril Ramaphosa celebrates his election as deputy president of South Africa’s embattled governing ANC. Reuters/Mike Hutchings

January 6, 2017

Ramaphosa has what it takes to fix South Africa’s ailing ANC. But …

Ongama Mtimka, Nelson Mandela University

Cyril Ramaphosa is in pole position to become president of South Africa’s ruling ANC, 20 years after he lost the position by Thabo Mbeki. But, it won’t be easy. Neither will rebuilding the party.

South African President Jacob Zuma. He has survived a bid to have him removed and might strike back. Philimon Bulawayo/Reuters

December 2, 2016

Zuma’s refusal to quit puts South Africa’s economy on an even weaker footing

Ongama Mtimka, Nelson Mandela University

All eyes are on the next move from President Jacob Zuma after he survived a bid from senior ANC colleagues to remove him. The fallout is expected to be focused on the economic cluster of government.

EFF leaders Godrich Gardee, left, Julius Malema and Floyd Shivamvu brief journalists in Alexandra, near Johannesburg. Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko

August 18, 2016

South Africa faces a bumpy political ride as EFF declines to join coalitions

Ongama Mtimka, Nelson Mandela University

The EFF is sending a strong message to South Africans that it wants to be known as the only political home for radical change.

Allegations that President Jacob Zuma’s friends, the Gupta family, corruptly dictate cabinet appointments have plunged South Africa into a political crisis. Shutterstock

April 7, 2016

Why state capture is a regressive step for any society

Ongama Mtimka, Nelson Mandela University

Lobbying political actors to achieve particular outcomes is an acceptable practice in a democracy. But state capture, as is allegedly happening in South Africa, denotes holding the state to ransom.

South African finance minister Pravin Gordhan had to tread carefully to please many competing interests in his budget. shutterstock

February 25, 2016

South African finance minister forced to walk a difficult political tightrope

Ongama Mtimka, Nelson Mandela University

South Africa’s finance minister means well, especially in his bid to cut public sector expenditure. But his success requires strong leadership and strategic alignment across the entire public sector.

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